The Puerto Rican Civic Association of Utah, a Kaysville-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, serves as a central entity for the state's Puerto Rican community, working alongside cultural groups like Bomba Marilé to preserve island traditions. This civic association, which is classified as a charitable, educational, and literary organization, operates independently of any national or regional groupings.
Civic Association Profile
The Puerto Rican Civic Association of Utah is a registered nonprofit with its headquarters located at 266 South in Kaysville, Utah. According to tax filings, the organization is categorized under civil rights, social action, and advocacy. While the association is a designated 501(c)(3) entity, its most recent tax period filings from March 2025 indicate it is a small-scale operation that is not required to file a full Form 990 return because its income is less than $25,000.
Cultural Preservation Through Dance
The preservation of Puerto Rican identity in the Beehive State is further bolstered by Bomba Marilé, a group focused on the traditional music and dance of the island. One of the group's founding members and Executive Director is Miriam Padilla Vargas, an endocrinologist specializing in diabetes and obesity who was born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. Vargas has a diverse background in dance, including styles such as salsa, bachata, Polynesian, Bollywood, and ballroom, and has served on the boards of several organizations including KRCL, PANDOS, and the Latino Diabetes Association.
Leadership and Mission
The leadership of Bomba Marilé includes co-founder Isaias Alavez Martinez, who has traveled to Puerto Rico and Cuba to study drumming and dance. Alavez Martinez, who has experience as a salsa dancer, stated that providing a space for the community to share music, singing, and dancing is vital to preserving culture for future generations. The group's board also includes Nicole Wines, a co-founder of the Raíces Cultural Center in Central New Jersey, who has been studying and sharing Caribbean cultural arts since 2005.
Artistic Expertise
Other key figures within the organization include Rafael Maya, the Director of the Puerto Rican Bomba group, Desde Cero. Maya, a musician, composer, and choreographer, has been working on projects that combine sampled sounds with ancient rhythms and modern structures, including a collaboration with musicians in Cuba. Additionally, Jeanitza Avilés Calderón brings significant expertise to the group; she holds a Master's degree in Fine Arts Education with a specialty in Dance and has decades of experience in the Puerto Rican education department. Avilés Calderón has been dancing bomba and plena since the age of eight and has performed in various international locations, including Italy, France, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic.
Identity and Belonging
Academic research has highlighted how these cultural practices serve as a mechanism for maintaining identity within Utah. A project presented at the University of Utah's Office of Undergraduate Research titled "Traditional Bomba Dance as a Tool for Maintaining Puertorriquenidad in Utah" analyzed oral histories from members of Bomba Marilé. The research, presented by Marylinda Gonzalez under the mentorship of Ed Muñoz, examined how concepts like cultural citizenship and "convivencia diaria," or daily living, shape Puerto Rican identity in the state.
The Role of Latinidad
The research findings suggest that these cultural expressions help develop a sense of belonging for Latinx ethnic groups in Utah, a state noted for being less welcoming toward non-LDS communities and non-white LDS communities. The study emphasized that Latinidad is not a new phenomenon in Utah, noting that various Latinx groups have developed different ways to maintain their cultural roots over time. This cultural presence is part of the increasing growth and diversity of the Latinx population within the state.
Community Impact
Through the combined efforts of civic organizations like the Puerto Rican Civic Association of Utah and cultural groups like Bomba Marilé, the Puerto Rican community maintains a distinct presence in the region. These efforts focus on bridging the gap between historical roots and modern life in the Beehive State through music, dance, and community advocacy.
